Academic Writing Series 2

Chapter 2

Listing-Order Paragraphs

Objectives

Organization Organization Grammar

Identify the three parts of Use listing-order Work with compound
a listing-order paragraph transition signals and sentences
conclusion signals

Writing
Use listing order to write
a paragraph related to a
career
PREWRITING
Clustering
 Listing-Order Paragraphs

Listing-Order Paragraphs
Listing order is one of the organizational patterns that writers often use in English. In
a listing-order paragraph, you divide the topic into separate points. In the paragraph,
you discuss one point, then another point, then a third point, and so on.
 There are three keys to writing a listing-order paragraph:

• Begin with a topic sentence that names the topic and says it has
several points.

• Write about (or list) each point seperately.

• End with a concluding sentence that reminds the reader about the
points just discussed.

Looking at the model: The model is about qualities that good flight attendants have. Read the model. Then answer the
questions.

1. Look at the title. What is the

topic of the paragraph?
2. Look at the first sentence. What
does it say about the topic?
3. How many characteristics
should the reader look for in this
paragraph? What are they?
4. What information does the last
sentence repeat?
 Looking at vocabulary: Intensifiers

We can describe how strong a characteristic is by using words like very and extremely.

He is a very hard worker. They are exceptionally skilled.

She is fairly good at the job. We are quite sure about it.

These words are known as intensifiers because they intensify (or strengthen) the meaning of the words they
describe. The diagram shows the relative weakness and strength of these intensifiers:

Weaker Stronger
rather quite very especially
fairly extremely
Practice 2: Looking at
intensifiers

Look at the intensifiers

in the diagram above.
Find and underline
them in the writing
model. Then circle the
word that each one
intensifies.

Intensifiers come
before adjectives to
give information
about how strong the
characteristic is.

Practice 2: Looking at intensifiers

A. Use a variety of intensifiers from the diagram above to complete
these sentences about yourself.

Weaker Stronger
rather quite very especially
fairly extremely

1. I am _________ creative.
2. I am _________ talkative.
3. I am _________ organized.
4. I am _________ funny.
5. I am _________ strong.
6. I am _________ patient.
7. I am _________ good at cooking.
8. I am _________ good at math.
 Organization
The Topic Sentence

The Topic Sentence

The most important sentence in a paragraph is the topic sentence. It is called the topic sentence
because it tells readers what the main idea of the paragraph is. In other words, it tells readers
what they are going to read about. The topic sentence is usually the first sentence in a paragraph.
 The Topic Sentence

The topic sentence has two parts:

1) A topic, which tells what the paragraph will be about, and

2) A controlling idea, which tells what the paragraph will say about the topic. It tells the
reader: This paragraph will discuss these things – and only these things – about this topic.

The Topic Sentence

For example, the topic of the writing model on page 38 is good flight attendants. What will the
paragraph say about good flight attendants? The controlling idea tells us: They have three important
characteristics. The paragraph will not talk about their uniforms, their training, or their duties. It will
only discuss three important characteristics that good flight attendants have.

Here are examples of topic sentences about English:

English is constantly adding new words.
English borrows words from other languages.
English is necessary for many different jobs.

Notice that the topic in each of these examples is the same (English), but the controlling ideas are
different. That means that each paragraph will discuss something very different about English.
 Practice 3: Analyzing Topic Sentences
Look at each group of topic sentences. Circle the topic and underline the controlling idea of each
sentence.

Groups 1 Group 2
1. Good roomates have four characteristics. 1. Successful managers share several
2. College students face many challenges. characteristics.
3. Living with your parents has certain 2. New teachers must master several skills.
advantages. 3. Living with your parents has certain
4. Successful student athletes have several disadvantages.
characteristics. 4. Good test-takers share several characteristics.
5. Small colleges are better than big 5. Big universities are better than small ones for
universities for several reaosn. three reasons.
 Practice 3: Analyzing Topic Sentences
Look at each group of topic sentences. Circle the topic and underline the controlling idea of each
sentence.

Groups 1 Group 2
1. Good roomates have four characteristics. 1. Successful managers share several
2. College students face many challenges. characteristics.
3. Living with your parents has certain 2. New teachers must master several skills.
advantages. 3. Living with your parents has certain
4. Successful student athletes have several disadvantages.
characteristics. 4. Good test-takers share several characteristics.
5. Small colleges are better than big 5. Big universities are better than small ones for
universities for several reaosns. three reasons.
Good teachers have three main characteristics.

There are three kinds of shoppers.

Are these topic sentences correct or wrong?

Brad Pitt was born in 1963.

Brad Pitt, who was born in 1963, is a remarkable American actor and film producer.

I am going to talk about engineers.

There are many different types of movies.

Sometimes comedy movies use fear to excite the audience.

Organization
Supporting Sentences
 Supporting Sentences
Supporting sentences follow the topic sentence in a paragraph. Supporting sentences explain or
prove the ideas in the topic sentence. They are the “filling” in a paragraph “sandwich”.
Supporting sentences give main points, examples and details.

Practice 6: Supporting Sentences

Add supporting points for the topic sentences. Write your points in the spaces provided. You may write phrases
or sentences.

a large number of assignments

midterm exams

final exams
very enthusiastic

have good time management skills

work well on a team

smaller classes

instructors are less busy

easier to make friends

Oraganization
Listing-Order Transition Signals
 Listing-Order Transition Signals
To show readers that they are moving from one supporting idea to another, good writers use words or
phrases known as transition signals. A transition signal alerts the reader that the writer is moving on to
the next supporting idea. It also shows how the new supporting idea is related to the previous idea.

In a listing order paragraph, you can use transition signals such as First, Second and Third to show the
reader the order of the main points.

Here are some tranistion signals that show listing order:

Listing-Order Transition Signals

First, … also …
First of all, …, also.
Second,
Third,
In addition,
Also,
Finally,

Most listing-order transition signals come at the beginning of the sentence, followed by a comma.

First, living in a forighn country helps you learn another language faster than studying it at school.

In addition, small colleges are friendlier, so new students make friends more quickly.

Also, studying is a popular library activity.

Transition signal also is an exception. You can use it at the beginning of a sentence with a comma (as in the
example above), but you can also use it with a verb (without a comma) or at the end of a sentence (preceded
by a comma).

Studying is also a popular library activity.

Students also like to study in the library.

Studying is a popular library activity, also.

 How also is used with verbs

Action verb Also is before the verb Students also like to study in the library.

Verb BE Also is after the verb Studying is also a popular activity.

Practice 7: Listing-Order Transition Signals

Find the listing-order transition signals in the writing model on page 38. then fill in the blanks.

First of all,
1. Transition signal for the first main point:__________________

2. Transition signal for the second main point: _______________

Second,

3. Third,
Transition signal for the third main point: _________________

4. also
What other listing-order transition signal appears in the model? ____________
Practice 7B:
Complete the paragraph
with listing-order transition
signals. Add commas where Second,
needed. For some, there
may be more than one
answer.

also

In addition,

, also

Paragraph Unity
Paragraph Unity

Unity

Unity is an important characteristic of a well-written paragraph. When a paragraph has unity, all
the sentences in it are about one main idea. Another way of saying this is that all the supporting
sentences must be relevant, which means “directly related to the main idea.” For example, if
your paragraph is about your mother’s good cooking, a sentence such as My sister is also a good
cook is irrelevant (that is, not relevant) because the paragraph is about your mother, not your
sister. When you write a paragraph, make sure that all of your supporting sentences are relevant.
Practice 8: Each paragraph
contains two irrelevant sentences.
Circle the topic and underline the
controlling idea in each topic
sentence. Then draw a line
through each irrelevant sentence.

Practice 8: Each paragraph

contains two irrelevant sentences.
Circle the topic and underline the
controlling idea in each topic
sentence. Then draw a line
through each irrelevant sentence.
 Oraganization
The Concluding Sentence
 The Concluding Sentence

Paragraphs that stand alone (that is, paragraphs that are not part of a longer composition) often end with a
concluding sentence. A concluding sentence signals the close of the paragraph to the reader.

Here are several points to keep in mind about concluding sentences:

● Sometimes a concluding sentence reminds the reader of the main point by restating the topic sentence
in different words.

In short, there are several types of college degrees in the United States.

It’s no surprise that people regard Boston as one of the top U.S. college towns.

● Sometimes a concluding sentence summarizes the main points.

To summarize, employers look for dependable, responsible team players.

In brief, nursing is a profession for people who are caring, organized, calm, strong, and intelligent.

● Writers often use a conclusion signal to show their readers that this is the end of the paragraph. The chart lists
several conclusion signals. Notice that there is always a comma after a conclusion signal.

Conclusion Signals
To conclude, To sum up, In brief,
In conclusion, To summarize, In short,
In summary, Indeed,

● Never introduce a new idea in your concluding sentence.

Practice 9:

Practice 9:
Practice 10:

In short, successful young fashion designers are creative,

hardworking, and have excellent portfolios.

Practice 10:

In conclusion, I like being a computer salespersone because I enjoy working

with people, solving problems, and learning new things.
 Sentence Structure
Compound Sentences

Compound Sentences
A compound sentence is two simple sentences connected by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
Here are some examples:

SIMPLE SENTENCE COORDINATING SIMPLE SENTENCE

CONJUNCTION

My sister is good at math, and she always gets good grades.

I am also good at math, but my sister is better than I am.
I will ask my teacher for help, or I will talk to my advisor.
My sister is older than I am, so maybe she can help me.

Command sentences can also be compound. Remember that the subject you is not expressed in
commands.

SIMPLE SENTENCE COORDINATING SIMPLE SENTENCE

CONJUNCTION

(You) Pay attention in class, and (you) do all of the homework.

(You) Listen carefully in class, but (you) don’t be afraid to ask questions.
 Here are three important points to know about compound sentences:
• A comma and a coordinating conjunction connect the two halves of a compound sentence.
• There are seven coordinating conjunctions in English: for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so. Remember them by the
phrase “fan boys”.
• Do not confuse a compound sentence with a simple sentence that has a cmpound verb. In the chart, the first
sentence in each pair of sentences is simple and doesn’t need a comma. The second one is compound and
requires a comma.
Sentence type Example Pattern

Simple sentence with Tom is good at languages and learns new words easily. SVV
compound verb
Compound sentence Tom is good at languages, so I sometimes ask him about words. SV, so SV

Simple sentence with Last year I tried to learn Arabic but decided it was too difficult for me. SVV
compound verb

Compound sentence Last year Tom and I were in the same Arabic class, but I decided to drop SSV, but SV
the class.

Simple sentence with Next year I will find an online Arabic course or perhaps hire a tutor. SVV
compound verb

Compound sentence Next year Tom will take another Arabic class, or perhaps he will join a SV, or SV
conversation group.

Practice 12A: Identifying

Simple and Compound
Sentences

In each sentence, underline simple SVV

the subjects once and the
verbs twice. Then, write the compound SV, or SVV
sentence type (simple or
simple SV
compound) and the pattern.

compound SV, and SV

compound SV, but SV

compound SV, but SV

simple SSV

compound SV, and SV

Practice 12B:
Read the paragraph. In
each sentence, underline
the subject(s) once and the
verb(s) twice. Then add
commas where needed. ,
(Hint: Seven commas are
,
missing).
,

,
,

Sentence Structure
Coordinating Conjunctions
And, but, or and so are the most common coordinating conjunctions. In compound sentences, they have
these uses.

Practice 13: Using And, But, Or and So

Complete the paragraphs with and, but, or and so. For some there may be more than one answer.

and

or

but

and but
 so
or

but
so
and
so/and and
or
so
or
but

and

Practice 14:

There are several hundred languages in the world, but not all of them have a
written form.

Chinese is spoken by more people, but English is spoken in more countries.

There are about one million words in English, but most people use only about
ten thousands of them.
 French used to be the language of international diplomacy, but now it is
English.

International companies are growing, so/and bilingual workers are always

needed.

Young people should know a second language, or they will be at a disadvantage in

the international job market.

Homework

Write a well-developed listing-order paragraph of about 200-250 words on

ONE of the following topics:

● Characteristics of good managers.

● Types of text takers.

Work in groups. Submit through Blackboard.